VIOLET, La. — A 70-year-old Violet man is still missing, and his son is dead, the apparent victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann said Thursday.
Danny Washington was reported missing Monday evening and officers who went to his home in the 3300 block of Shannon Drive came upon what they believe was a crime scene.
Pohlmann said that blood and a spent shell casing were found at the scene and that Mr. Washington’s pickup truck and his son Dantonio were missing.
The sheriff’s office then began searching for Mr. Washington’s Toyota Tacoma and spotted it in the 5800 block of East Judge Perez Drive where they pulled it over.
Pohlmann said deputies ordered the man in the pickup to get out and said he did so briefly, but then went back into the truck and deputies heard the sound of an apparent gunshot.
The man who had been driving the pickup was identified as Dantonio Washington, Danny Washington’s son. He died from the injuries.
Pohlmann said that while they are still treating Danny Washington as a missing person, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance give him doubt.
Danny Washington has two other children. His neighbors told WWL Louisiana everyone knew Danny, and they'd often see him taking a walk.
Anyone with information about this incident, or any other criminal activity in St. Bernard Parish is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, the Criminal Investigations Bureau’s tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS or 8477, or Crimestoppers GNO at (504) 822-1111.
Callers to the CIB tip hotline or Crimestoppers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash award.